Dual-use steam-vacuum cleaner in parallel structure

ABSTRACT

A dual-use steam-vacuum cleaner is provided in a parallel structure having a vertical frame and a floor brush connected to a lower end of the vertical frame, as well as a dust cup fixed in front of the vertical frame and a water tank fixed in front of the vertical frame in parallel with the dust cup. The dust cup and the water tank are arranged in the front of the vertical frame in parallel, thereby providing good visualization and conforming to ergonomics. The structure also maximally increases the capacity of the water tank. Additionally, the vacuuming path and the water path do not interfere with each other, and are of a simple structure.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a dual-use steam-vacuum cleaner in parallel structure.

BACKGROUND

With strengthening of the environmental awareness, the requirement of cleaning efficiency of vacuum cleaners has become increasingly higher. In order to achieve higher cleaning efficiency, the industry of the art proposed a dual-use steam-vacuum cleaner with the steam and vacuum functions combined in one machine, which was widely welcomed on the market. However, this steam cleaner has a stiffer appearance and a more complicated structure, with the capacity of its dust box and water tank limited.

SUMMARY

A purpose of the present invention is to provide a dual-use steam-vacuum cleaner having an attractive appearance, a simple structure and a parallel structure.

A first technical solution of the present invention is a dual-use steam-vacuum cleaner of a parallel structure, with its dust cup in parallel with a water tank.

Based on the first technical solution, the present invention further includes the following subsidiary technical solution:

Both the dust cup and the water tank are removable.

The present invention further comprises a vertical frame and a floor brush connected to the lower end of the vertical frame, the vertical frame including a supporting portion adjacent to the floor brush and used for supporting the dust cup and the water tank at the same time.

The vertical frame further includes an inlet, an inlet passage connected to the inlet, and a fixing sleeve located below the inlet and sleeved on the supporting portion, wherein the supporting portion is arranged in front of the vertical frame, and the fixing sleeve extends protrudely forward from the vertical frame.

It further includes a head fixed at the upper end of the vertical frame, and a decorative plate used for shielding a gap between the dust cup and the water tank, with both the dust cup and the water tank below the head.

The supporting portion includes a supporting plate used for supporting the dust cup and the bottom of the water tank at the same time, wherein the supporting plate includes a recess used for supporting the dust cup and a stepped portion used for supporting the water tank, while the stepped portion includes a water receiving aperture butting to a water effluent portion of the water tank and a barrier rib used for spacing the dust cup and the water tank, with the recess provided with at least one protrusion located at its edge for preventing the dust cup from rotating.

The supporting portion further includes a fixing plate located below the supporting plate, with the fixing plate provided with a positioning groove used for accommodating the fixing sleeve.

The floor brush includes a steam generator used for generating steam, an electromagnetic pump used for pumping water into the steam generator, a circuit board used for controlling the electromagnetic pump and the steam generator, a transmission pipe used for transmitting water or steam, and a suction channel connected at one end to the inlet passage.

The dust cup is provided above with a cover that is fitted tightly with the head and removable, and provided inside with an inlet chamber communicating with the inlet and located at the bottom, a tubular cyclone chamber located above and communicating with the inlet chamber, and a dust collecting chamber located between a wall of the dust cup and the cyclone chamber.

The circuit board includes a circuit with adjustable heating power and water amount that is composed at least of a microcontroller, a silicon controlled rectifier or a diode, and a temperature sensor.

A second technical solution of the present invention is a dual-use steam-vacuum cleaner, which comprises a vertical frame, a floor brush connected to the lower end of the vertical frame, a dust cup arranged on the vertical frame, and a water tank arranged on the vertical frame in parallel with the dust cup, wherein the vertical frame includes a supporting portion adjacent to the floor brush and used for supporting the dust cup and the water tank at the same time.

Based on the second technical solution, the present invention further includes the following subsidiary technical solution:

The vertical frame further includes an inlet, an inlet passage connected to the inlet, and a fixing sleeve located below the inlet and sleeved on the supporting portion, wherein the supporting portion is arranged in front of the vertical frame, and the fixing sleeve extends protrudely forward from the vertical frame.

It further includes a head fixed at the upper end of the vertical frame, and a decorative plate used for shielding a gap between the dust cup and the water tank, with both the dust cup and the water tank below the head.

The supporting portion includes a supporting plate used for supporting the dust cup and the bottom of the water tank at the same time, wherein the supporting plate includes a recess used for supporting the dust cup and a stepped portion used for supporting the water tank, while the stepped portion includes a water receiving aperture butting to a water effluent portion of the water tank and a barrier rib used for spacing the dust cup and the water tank, with the recess provided with at least one protrusion located at its edge for preventing the dust cup from rotating.

The supporting portion further includes a fixing plate located below the supporting plate, with the fixing plate provided with a positioning groove used for accommodating the fixing sleeve.

The floor brush includes a steam generator used for generating steam, an electromagnetic pump used for pumping water into the steam generator, a circuit board used for controlling the electromagnetic pump and the steam generator, a transmission pipe used for transmitting water or steam, and a suction channel connected at one end to the inlet passage.

The dust cup is provided above with a cover that is fitted tightly with the head and removable, and provided inside with an inlet chamber communicating with the inlet and located at the bottom, a tubular cyclone chamber located above and communicating with the inlet chamber, and a dust collecting chamber located between the wall of the dust cup and the cyclone chamber.

The circuit board includes a circuit with adjustable heating power and water amount that is composed at least of a microcontroller, a silicon controlled rectifier or a diode, and a temperature sensor.

A third technical solution of the present invention is a dual-use steam-vacuum cleaner, which comprises a vertical frame, a floor brush connected to the lower end of the vertical frame, a dust cup arranged on the vertical frame, and a water tank arranged on the vertical frame in parallel with the dust cup, wherein the vertical frame includes a supporting portion adjacent to the floor brush and used for supporting the dust cup and the water tank at the same time, while the floor brush includes a steam generator used for generating steam, an electromagnetic pump used for pumping water into the steam generator, and a circuit board used for controlling the electromagnetic pump and the steam generator, with the circuit board including a circuit with adjustable heating power and water amount.

The present invention has the following advantages:

The dust cup and the water tank are arranged in the front of the vertical frame in parallel, thereby providing good visualization and conforming to ergonomics. The structure also maximally increases the capacity of the water tank. Additionally, the vacuuming path and the water path do not interfere with each other, and are of a simple structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will further be described below with reference to the drawings and examples.

FIG. 1 is a stereoscopic schematic drawing of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic drawing of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional schematic drawing of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded schematic drawing of the supporting portion of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top schematic drawing of the floor brush of the present invention, wherein the vacuum pipe is removed; and

FIG. 6 is a stereoscopic schematic drawing of the floor brush of the present invention;

wherein: 10—vertical frame; 12—handle; 14—supporting portion; 20—floor brush; 22—steam generator; 24—electromagnetic pump; 26—circuit board; 28—transmission pipe; 30—head; 32—motor; 40—dust cup; 42—cover; 50—water tank; 52—water effluent portion; 54—positioning portion; 60—decorative plate; 100—inlet; 102—fixing sleeve; 140—supporting plate; 142—fixing plate; 200—suction port; 202—air pipe; 204—vacuum pipe; 280—water influent end; 282—steam effluent end; 400—inlet chamber; 402—cyclone chamber; 404—dust collecting chamber; 420—filter cover; 422—Hepa; 1402—recess; 1404—stepped portion; 1406—water receiving aperture; 1407—protrusion; 1408—barrier rib; and 1420—positioning groove.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Example: As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the present invention discloses a specific example of a dual-use steam-vacuum cleaner in parallel structure, which comprises a vertical frame 10 provided with a supporting portion 14, a handle 12 connected to the upper end of the vertical frame 10, a floor brush 20 connected to the lower end of the vertical frame 10, a head 30 fixed at the upper end of the vertical frame 30, a dust cup 40 located between the head 30 and the supporting portion 14, a water tank 50 located below the head 30 and fixed on the supporting portion 14 in parallel with the dust cup 40, and a decorative plate 60 used for shielding a gap between the dust cup 40 and the water tank 50. Wherein the vertical frame 10 is provided with an inlet 100, an inlet passage (not shown in the drawing) connected to the inlet 100, and a fixing sleeve 102 located below the inlet 100 and extending protrudely forward. The head 30 is provided inside with a motor 32 for providing a vacuum power source, wherein the motor inlet is located there below. Both the dust cup 40 and the water tank 50 are located in front of the vertical frame 10.

As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the supporting portion 14 is fixedly connected below the vertical frame 10, and located above and adjacent to the floor brush 20. The supporting portion 14 includes a supporting plate 140 used for supporting the dust cup 40 and the bottom of the water tank 50 at the same time, and a fixing plate 142 located below the supporting plate 140 and sleeved with a fixing sleeve 102. Wherein the supporting plate 140 includes a recess 1402 used for supporting the dust cup 40 and a stepped portion 1404 used for supporting the water tank 50, while the stepped portion 1404 includes a water receiving aperture 1406 butting to a water effluent portion 52 of the water tank 50 and a barrier rib 1408 used for spacing the dust cup 40 and the water tank 50. The recess 1402 is provided with at least one protrusion 1407 located at its edge for preventing the dust cup 40 from rotating. The recess 1402 and the stepped portion 1404, having a step thereinbetween, are not on the same plane. The fixing plate 142 is engaged with the supporting plate 140, and provided with a positioning groove 1420 for accommodating the fixing sleeve 102.

As shown in FIGS. 2-3, the dust cup 40, removable and generally tubular, is provided above with a cover 42 that is fitted tightly with the head 30 and removable, and provided inside with an inlet chamber 400 communicating with the inlet 100 and located at the bottom, a tubular cyclone chamber 400 located above and communicating with the inlet chamber 402, and a dust collecting chamber 402 located between the wall of the dust cup and the cyclone chamber 404, wherein the cyclone chamber 402 communicates with the dust collecting chamber 404 through the upper opening, with the inlet chamber 400 having a greater diameter than the cyclone chamber 402, so as to form a spiral inlet passage that helps high speed rotation of the airflow. The cover 42 includes a filter cover 420 that can extend into the cyclone chamber 402, and a Hepa 422 located above the filter cover 420, wherein the Hepa 422 communicates downstream with the motor 32.

The water tank 50 is also removable and locally in an arc form, including a water effluent portion 52 at the bottom and a positioning portion 54 at the top. In this example, the positioning portion 54 is preferably a groove.

As shown in FIGS. 5-6, the floor brush 20 is a dual-use steam-vacuum floor brush, including a steam generator 22 used for generating steam, an electromagnetic pump 24 used for pumping water into the steam generator 22, a circuit board 26 used for controlling the water amount of the electromagnetic pump 24 and the heating power of the steam generator 22, a transmission pipe 28 used for transmitting water or steam, and a suction channel connected at one end to the inlet passage. Wherein the circuit board 26 at least includes a circuit composed of a microcontroller, a silicon controlled rectifier (or a diode), and a temperature sensor, so as to make the heating power of the steam generator 22 adjustable, with the amount of water entering the steam generator 22 from the electromagnetic pump 24 also adjustable at the same time, such that the amount of water entering the steam generator 22 will also be correspondingly decreased/increased with the heating power of the steam generator 22. The transmission pipe 28 has a water influent end 280 at one end connected to the water effluent portion 52, and a steam effluent end 282 at the other end. The suction channel includes a suction port 200 in the front thereof, an air pipe 202 connected to the suction port 200, and a vacuum pipe 204 connected to the air pipe 202. The circuit board 26 is located below the air pipe 202 and between the steam generator 22 and the electromagnetic pump 24, thus making the internal structure of the floor brush 20 compact and reasonable, electrically controlling the steam generator 22 and the electromagnetic pump 24 effectively.

With the dust cup and the water tank arranged in front of the vertical frame in parallel with each other, the cleaner of the present invention is both attractive and good in visibility, without interference with the ground when being used at an angle, in conformity with the ergonomics mechanics, not only maximizing the capacity of the water tank but also simplifying the structure, with the vacuuming path and the water path not interfering with each other.

Of course, the above example is used only for explaining technical concept and characteristics of the present invention. It is provided to make those skilled in the art understand the present invention and implement it, rather than limit the extent of protection of the present invention. Any equivalent alteration or modification made according to the spiritual essence of the main technical solution of the present invention will all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. 

1. A dual-use steam-vacuum cleaner in parallel structure, comprising a dust cup and a water tank wherein the dust cup is in parallel with the water tank.
 2. The dual-use steam-vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein both the dust cup and the water tank are removable.
 3. The dual-use steam-vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, further comprising a vertical frame and a floor brush connected to a lower end of the vertical frame, the vertical frame including a supporting portion adjacent to the floor brush and used for supporting the dust cup and the water tank at the same time.
 4. The dual-use steam-vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein the vertical frame further includes an inlet, an inlet passage connected to the inlet, and a fixing sleeve located below the inlet and sleeved on the supporting portion, wherein the supporting portion is arranged in front of the vertical frame, and the fixing sleeve extends protrudely forward from the vertical frame.
 5. The dual-use steam-vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, further comprising a head fixed at an upper end of the vertical frame, and a decorative plate used for shielding a gap between the dust cup and the water tank, with both the dust cup and the water tank below the head.
 6. The dual-use steam-vacuum cleaner according to claim 3 wherein the supporting portion includes a supporting plate used for supporting the dust cup and the bottom of the water tank at the same time, wherein the supporting plate includes a recess used for supporting the dust cup and a stepped portion used for supporting the water tank, while the stepped portion includes a water receiving aperture butting to a water effluent portion of the water tank and a barrier rib used for spacing the dust cup and the water tank, with the recess provided with at least one protrusion located at its edge for preventing the dust cup from rotating.
 7. The dual-use steam-vacuum cleaner according to claim 6, wherein the supporting portion further includes a fixing plate located below the supporting plate, with the fixing plate provided with a positioning groove used for accommodating the fixing sleeve.
 8. The dual-use steam-vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein the floor brush includes a steam generator used for generating steam, an electromagnetic pump used for pumping water into the steam generator, a circuit board used for controlling the electromagnetic pump and the steam generator, a transmission pipe used for transmitting water or steam, and a suction channel connected at one end to the inlet passage.
 9. The dual-use steam-vacuum cleaner according to claim 5, wherein the dust cup is provided above with a cover that is fitted tightly with the head and removable, and provided inside with an inlet chamber communicating with the inlet and located at the bottom, a tubular cyclone chamber located above and communicating with the inlet chamber, and a dust collecting chamber located between a wall of the dust cup and the cyclone chamber.
 10. The dual-use steam-vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein the circuit board includes a circuit with adjustable heating power and water amount that is composed at least of a microcontroller, a silicon controlled rectifier or a diode, and a temperature sensor.
 11. A dual-use steam-vacuum cleaner comprising: a vertical frame, a floor brush connected to a lower end of the vertical frame, a dust cup arranged on the vertical frame, and a water tank arranged on the vertical frame in parallel with the dust cup, wherein the vertical frame includes a supporting portion adjacent to the floor brush and used for supporting the dust cup and the water tank at the same time.
 12. The dual-use steam-vacuum cleaner according to claim 11, wherein the vertical frame further includes an inlet, an inlet passage connected to the inlet, and a fixing sleeve located below the inlet and sleeved on the supporting portion, wherein the supporting portion is arranged in front of the vertical frame, and the fixing sleeve extends protrudely forward from the vertical frame.
 13. The dual-use steam-vacuum cleaner according to claim 12, further comprising a head fixed at an upper end of the vertical frame, and a decorative plate used for shielding a gap between the dust cup and the water tank, with both the dust cup and the water tank below the head.
 14. The dual-use steam-vacuum cleaner according to claim 11 wherein the supporting portion includes a supporting plate used for supporting the dust cup and the bottom of the water tank at the same time, wherein the supporting plate includes a recess used for supporting the dust cup and a stepped portion used for supporting the water tank, while the stepped portion includes a water receiving aperture butting to a water effluent portion of the water tank and a barrier rib used for spacing the dust cup and the water tank, with the recess provided with at least one protrusion located at its edge for preventing the dust cup from rotating.
 15. The dual-use steam-vacuum cleaner according to claim 14, wherein the supporting portion further includes a fixing plate located below the supporting plate, with the fixing plate provided with a positioning groove used for accommodating the fixing sleeve.
 16. The dual-use steam-vacuum cleaner according to claim 15, wherein the floor brush includes a steam generator used for generating steam, an electromagnetic pump used for pumping water into the steam generator, a circuit board used for controlling the electromagnetic pump and the steam generator, a transmission pipe used for transmitting water or steam, and a suction channel connected at one end to the inlet passage.
 17. The dual-use steam-vacuum cleaner according to claim 16, wherein the dust cup is provided above with a cover that is fitted tightly with the head and removable, and provided inside with an inlet chamber communicating with the inlet and located at the bottom, a tubular cyclone chamber located above and communicating with the inlet chamber, and a dust collecting chamber located between a wall of the dust cup and the cyclone chamber.
 18. The dual-use steam-vacuum cleaner according to claim 17, wherein the circuit board includes a circuit with adjustable heating power and water amount that is composed at least of a microcontroller, a silicon controlled rectifier or a diode, and a temperature sensor.
 19. A dual-use steam-vacuum cleaner, comprising: a vertical frame, a floor brush connected to a lower end of the vertical frame, a dust cup arranged on the vertical frame, and a water tank arranged on the vertical frame in parallel with the dust cup, wherein the vertical frame includes a supporting portion adjacent to the floor brush and used for supporting the dust cup and the water tank at the same time, while the floor brush includes a steam generator used for generating steam, an electromagnetic pump used for pumping water into the steam generator, and a circuit board used for controlling the electromagnetic pump and the steam generator, with the circuit board including a circuit with adjustable heating power and water amount. 